FBR Topics

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Friday, September 21, 2012

Recently FLO along with MHN presented a seminar on Parenting
during an Unaccompanied Tour. A
record number of people were able to dial in and attend the seminar. We hope to repeat the session soon (it was
too early for some and too late for othersJ).

Here are some of the
tips from the seminar:

·Use indirect questioning to allow kids the
opportunity to talk

·Use stuffed animals to act out
scenes, so children can explain their feelings

·Play manicurist-mother/father paints nails while
asking questions

·Teens – may take them an hour to ‘warm up’; ask
them “what do your friends think?”

·If you have employee’s cell phone or other
number, make sure kids know that it’s for emergencies only; set time limits on
using phone; if kids want to ‘vent’ or complain about parent at home, encourage
them to email absent parent instead of picking up the phone. (Good advice for adults too!) That way you won’t say something you regret.

·Let children’s teachers know what’s going on.

·Homework help – find a local tutor or older
student; work as a group before employee goes to post so child has continuity
and does not feel that the tutor is a replacement for employee parent. Use Skype so away parent can help with
homework.

·Validate other parent’s experience

·Have something to look forward to, like your
onward assignment, and learn the language, read about city…but remember,
sometimes things don’t work out the way you hoped/planned.

Current events can be scary…. especially to children. Here are some websites you may find
useful:

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

PRESIDENT
OBAMA

AT THE
STATE DEPARTMENT

September 12,2012

Washington, D.C.

Obviously,
the first thing that I want to say, and what we all feel, is deep sorrow over
the loss of Chris and Sean. Some of you knew them well. Some of you
worked with them closely and were inspired by them. And there’s not much
that I’m going to be able to say that quells the grief that all of you feel
right now, thoughts and prayers are with their families.

But
what I can say is that had it not been for Chris’s courage and his vision, his
recognition of the stakes that existed last year when Benghazi was on the brink
of being overrun, it’s not clear that those of us who were a little higher up
off the ground would have made the difficult political decisions that we made
in order to save Benghazi and ultimately provide Libya with the opportunity to
determine their own destiny. And in some ways, that’s a microcosm of
Chris’s courage, his vision, his willingness to engage on the ground in very difficult
circumstances. That’s a microcosm of what all of you guys do each and
every day.

Some
of you know that I spent a lot of years overseas when I was a kid. And
there’s no doubt that that’s shaped my perspective on the world and our place
in it, and not always in the ways that some of my opponents describe, but it
shaped it nevertheless. And what I know has always been one of America’s
greatest gifts to the world, one of our greatest traits as a people, is the
fact that we’re not made up of a single tribe, a single religion or a single
race, but we’re this collection of strivers and dreamers, people from all
around the world who came here because we all agreed on a creed, on a set of
principles – the idea that all men and women are created equal, that we’re all
endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights – that these aren’t just
American rights, they’re not just Western rights; they are aspirations that
people in the smallest village in Libya or in the most prosperous cities in
Europe all believe in and care about, and that part of our task is to make sure
that the way we project power as the greatest nation on Earth is consistent
with those values.

We
do so with humility, and we do so understanding that we can’t control the shape
of events everywhere and that it’s not our job to dictate other people’s forms
of government. But it is this belief that those values that make us who
we are have to be part and parcel of how we operate in the world.

And
Chris and Sean, I think, represent the very best of that tradition – people who
were realistic but also idealistic; people who understood how hard it is to
bring about change, but who weren’t daunted by the task and were willing to put
their shoulder behind the wheel to move history in a better direction.

So
I could not be prouder of them. But I also understand that all of you,
with your own capacities and in your own ways, are carrying out that same
tradition each and every day. And as a consequence of what you do,
America is safer, America is more respected, America is more secure.

Are
there risks in that approach? There are risks when somebody like Chris
ventures out from the compound and takes the risk to his own security so that
he can engage with people in circumstances that are still pretty
volatile. There are risks when our diplomats are going to volunteer for
posts that they know pose a risk to their person.

The
fact that Chris and Sean were willing to take those risks, the fact that many
of you are willing to take those risks, is not only commendable, it’s
absolutely vital to us continuing to be a leading light, and it’s vital for us
to be safer. Because the one thing that I’m absolutely confident about is
that when we lead with our values, we lead with our ideas, and we don’t shy
away from the world, and we’re not consumed by cynicism, but the belief that we
can make things a little bit better. But when we embrace that, then we’re
securing a better future for our kids and our grandkids and all those Americans
to come.

So
I hope that alongside your sorrow today, all of you also take a moment to
reflect on how important your work is and to remind yourselves that it’s not
that often in life where you’re allowed to really make a difference, where
you’re put in a position where what you do matters, that changes lives.
It may be the difference as to whether a child gets something to eat. It
may make the difference in terms of whether a political prisoner is freed.
It may make a difference in terms of whether or not a country shifts towards
democracy. It may make a difference in whether or not Americans are
welcome as they travel to places around the world.

What
you guys do every day matters deeply. And so on days like this, it’s a
good moment for us to step back and say all the frustrations, the setbacks, the
dealings with your own internal bureaucracies, the plans that go awry, that all
that stuff somehow is worth it, and that the reason you got into this business
in the first place is because although there are a lot of reasons to be cynical
about the world, there are more reasons to be hopeful about it.

I
know everybody who knew Chris understood that that was who he was. He
loved what he did, and he was excited about it, and he knew that it was going
to make a difference. And he could see it. And I know Sean felt the
same way. And I know most of you who got into this business did so
because you feel that same way.

So
this is a setback today, and part of our family has been lost. But don’t
lose that sense of hopefulness. Don’t lose that sense that somehow the
world is not subject to our better selves. If we work hard enough and
smart enough, then over time we move the world in a better direction. And
it’s not going to happen unless you guys retain that sense – and it can’t come
from anywhere else because there’s no other country on Earth that thinks quite
in that same way.

We
are still the one indispensable power, and the reason is because of the spirit of
people like Chris and Sean and because of you. Don’t lose that. And
I hope that if you can take away one single thing from this tragedy, that we’re
going to redouble our efforts and strengthen our resolve. I know that’s
how your boss, the Secretary of State thinks about it because nobody’s been in
the thick of things longer or seen greater reason to be cynical. And
nobody, behind the tough exterior, still possesses that sense of hopefulness
and idealism as much as our Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

So
take something from her example. Take heart that no matter how difficult
this particular day is, what you guys are doing every single day is making the
world better. I thank you for it and the American people thank you for it
as well.

I strongly condemn the outrageous attack on our
diplomatic facility in Benghazi, which took the lives of four Americans,
including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Right now, the American people have the
families of those we lost in our thoughts and prayers. They exemplified
America's commitment to freedom, justice, and partnership with nations and
people around the globe, and stand in stark contrast to those who callously
took their lives.

I have directed my Administration to provide all
necessary resources to support the security of our personnel in Libya, and to
increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe. While the United
States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must
all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of
these public servants.

On a personal note, Chris was a courageous and exemplary
representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he
selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi.
As Ambassador in Tripoli, he has supported Libya's transition to democracy. His
legacy will endure wherever human beings reach for liberty and justice. I am
profoundly grateful for his service to my Administration, and deeply saddened
by this loss.

The brave Americans we lost represent the extraordinary
service and sacrifices that our civilians make every day around the globe. As
we stand united with their families, let us now redouble our own efforts to
carry their work forward.

Statement on the Death of American Personnel in Benghazi,
Libya

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham ClintonSecretary of
State

Washington, DC

September
12, 2012

It is with profound sadness
that I share the news of the death of four American personnel in Benghazi,
Libya yesterday. Among them were United States Ambassador to Libya Chris
Stevens and Foreign Service Information Management Officer, Sean Smith. We are
still making next of kin notifications for the other two individuals. Our
hearts go out to all their families and colleagues.

A 21 year veteran of the Foreign Service, Ambassador Stevens died last night
from injuries he sustained in the attack on our office in Benghazi.

I had the privilege of swearing
in Chris for his post in Libya only a few months ago. He spoke eloquently about
his passion for service, for diplomacy and for the Libyan people. This
assignment was only the latest in his more than two decades of dedication to
advancing closer ties with the people of the Middle East and North Africa which
began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco. As the conflict in Libya unfolded,
Chris was one of the first Americans on the ground in Benghazi. He risked his
own life to lend the Libyan people a helping hand to build the foundation for a
new, free nation. He spent every day since helping to finish the work that he
started. Chris was committed to advancing America’s values and interests, even
when that meant putting himself in danger.

Sean Smith was a husband and a father of two, who joined the Department ten
years ago. Like Chris, Sean was one of our best. Prior to arriving in Benghazi,
he served in Baghdad, Pretoria, Montreal, and most recently The Hague.

All the Americans we lost in
yesterday’s attacks made the ultimate sacrifice. We condemn this vicious and
violent attack that took their lives, which they had committed to helping the
Libyan people reach for a better future.

America’s diplomats and development experts stand on the front lines every day
for our country. We are honored by the service of each and every one of them.

Followers

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The ideas, views, and information expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the policies of U.S. Department of State. We provide external links solely for our readers’ information and convenience. We do not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites or the views they express or products/services they offer.